Immigration has been one of the hottest issues for Republican candidates, with some advocating for sweeping reforms to address the US immigration system and tackle the Southern border crisis.
Deport American-born Children of Undocumented Immigrants
Vivek Ramaswamy, who gained attention after his performance at the recent Republican debate, said that he would deport American-born children of undocumented immigrants if elected as president.
“The family unit will be deported,” Ramaswamy said when asked by NBC News if the deportations would include American-born children.
Families Deported Together
“The children would be deported along with their families,” Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy’s Background
Ramaswamy, born and raised in Ohio to Indian immigrant parents, built his fortune in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
He gained prominence in Republican politics after authoring the book “Woke, Inc.” in 2012.
Going Against the 14th Amendment
According to the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, children born in the United States are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment states.
The History of the Amendment
The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, three years after the end of the American Civil War that abolished slavery in Southern states.
The 14th Amendment also overturned a Supreme Court ruling according to which slaves and free African Americans couldn’t obtain U.S. citizenship.
Some Conservatives Have Different Beliefs
A number of conservatives, including Ramaswamy, don’t think that the 14th Amendment confers birthright citizenship.
“Perfectly Legally Permissible”
“Under the legal theory that the child of an illegal immigrant is not someone who enjoys birthright citizenship, then it would be perfectly legally permissible to remove the entire family unit,” Ramaswamy said.
Republican Promises to End Birthright Citizenship
As the Presidential election nears, several Republicans in the race have said they would end the birthright to citizenship.
DeSantis Joins the Chorus
In June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s campaign called birthright citizenship “inconsistent with the original understanding of the 14th Amendment,” as he announced a new border policy.
Trump Promises the Same
Former President Donald Trump vowed to issue an executive order that would end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants if re-elected.
Actions Would Draw Legal Challenges
Many legal experts say that such action would almost certainly draw a legal challenge,
Ramaswamy Supports Military Action in Mexico
Like a number of other Republicans, Ramaswamy also said he supports US military action in Mexico to fight the flow of drugs into the United States.
Republican Talk About Military Plans Keeps Growing
The conversation about military intervention to fight drug cartels south of the border emerged earlier this year, which was followed by Congress Republicans proposing formal war powers for the president to order US troops against Mexican drug gangs.
LGBTQ Community “Cult-Like”
During his interview with Tucker Carlson, Ramaswamy also called LBTQ community “cult-like,” saying that it creates “us-versus-them” order.
Ramaswamy said the LGBTQ rights movement’s existence is “perpetuated by ideas that are based in faith rather than facts” because its core premises are irreconcilably “in tension” with each other.
Similar to Trump
Unlike some Republican candidates, Ramaswamy doesn’t draw a harsh line between himself and Trump, who is still seen as the biggest contender on the Republican side.
“I’m more similar to Trump in 2015 than Trump today is to Trump in 2015,” Ramaswamy said during the podcast interview with Russell Brand.
The post Ramaswamy’s Immigration Proposal: Deporting American-Born Children of Undocumented Immigrants first appeared on Mama Say What?!
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